HC to State: Ensure that all Autos Rickshaws have Electronic Meters, Read Order

The Madras High Court has asked the State of Tamil Nadu to ensure all auto-rickshaw holders have electronic machines and are being used as well.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy was adjudicating upon a writ petition for implementation of the Government Order mandating installation of electronic meters in all auto rickshaws.

Learned Advocate General submitted that in compliance of the said G.O., action had been taken and presently, all the auto-rickshaws are having electronic meters, but it is without printers. He contended that looking into the cost of the electronic meter with printers, it is not viable for the State for installing the same in the auto-rickshaws, but, all the auto-rickshaws are having electronic meters.

It is further stated that the State is in the process of installing GPS or to make a consolidated equipment which may have meters with GPS. A Mobile App will be available.

The learned Advocate General further submitted that, so far as the printer is concerned, that would not be workable, looking into the cost that has to be incurred by the State Government or auto-rickshaw holder. He assured that the subject order has been complied with and all the auto-rickshaw holders are charging amounts based on the meters installed on their auto-rickshaws.

Contesting the above, the petitioner-in-person submitted that even if the electronic meters have been installed on the auto-rickshaws, they do not operate the same, rather, they demand charges as per their sweet-will.

A reference to the other available system through Ola/Uber, etc., has also been given by the petitioner, which has taken a toll on the plying of the auto-rickshaws, but in the Ola/Uber, etc., the meters are installed and working, whereas, in the auto-rickshaws, though meters may have been installed, it is not being operated or it would not work.

The Court noted that the complaint in the present petition is that, despite existence of the meters, the auto-rickshaw holders are not operating it.

"Whenever an auto-rickshaw holder is caught for not using the meter, the action is taken. In any case, the efforts should be to check the auto-rickshaw holders to find out as to whether they are operating it with the meters or not." the Court said.

The Court thus disposed off the writ petition with direction that all the auto-rickshaw holders should have electronic meters and that should operate and accordingly, periodically, checks should be conducted by the Police and Transport Departments to find out as to whether the auto-rickshaw is being operated with meters or not, and for that, if any complaint is made, then immediate action should be taken on it.

Read Order Here:

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